OCMA (Orange County Museum of Art)

Rooted in the idea that ceramics are primarily natural raw materials obtained and shaped by heat from the Earth’s crust, Unearthed brings together a collection of artists who explore the medium’s intrinsic connection to land, place, and geology. Using earthy materials like clay deposits, mineral-rich rocks, and silica sands—whether employed as the primary medium or as points of reference to simulate, record, or reimagine geological and territorial changes—the exhibition traces not only the origins of ceramics, but also the processes that shape its form. Channeling the earth in the act of making the earth, the exhibition invites us to recognize the inherent familiarity and authenticity of ceramics as a practice, ultimately grounding us in a shared history of creation shaped by both human hands and nature.